August 25, 2009 Governor Riley Assumes Chairmanship of Southern Governors’ Association
MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley on Monday became chairman of the Southern Governors’ Association, announcing a new effort to combine the resources and influence of Southern states to promote and protect mutual economic interests.
Governor Riley takes over for 2008-2009 SGA Chairman and Virginia Governor
Tim Kaine, who hosted the annual meeting of Southern governors last weekend
in Williamsburg, Virginia.
“I want to thank Governor Kaine for his leadership over the past year,” said
Governor Riley. “This year’s conference was productive and I think we each
have gained knowledge that will be helpful as our nation debates
comprehensive policy changes.”
As his chairman’s initiative, an effort Southern governors will focus on for
the next year, Governor Riley chose “Securing Southern Economic Success.”
The initiative will include:
Collaborating on economic development efforts to benefit the
region and “selling the American South” to the rest of the world
Engaging Southern governors in ongoing discussions about
federal policies that could negatively affect the South
Governor Riley said he is excited to assume the role of chairman and is
ready to get to work.
“I’m honored to serve as chairman of the Southern Governors’ Association for
the next year,” said Governor Riley. “75 years ago this organization was
founded to combine the resources and influence of Southern governors to
protect the economic vitality of the American South. I think it’s fair to
say we’ve been successful. What was once a mostly agricultural society has
been transformed into an industrial and technological powerhouse that, when
combined, makes up the third largest economy in the world.
“For the last decade or more, the South has set the pace for the rest of the
nation in economic growth. There has been more positive growth, more
investment, and more progress coming to the Southern States than perhaps any
other region. We need to protect what has given us our competitive edge. As
governors, we need to take a hard look at what’s going on in Washington and
see how it could affect our states. I think we’ll find, as we always do,
that we have more in common than we sometimes realize.
“Over the next year, I’ll work with my fellow governors to explore our
individual economic goals and find ways to collaborate on promoting the
South around the world. I will encourage candid discussions about federal
issues and how certain policies could affect our states. We won’t agree on
every part of every issue, but we should always agree that our Southern
perspective must be part of the discussion.
“This is a critical time for our Southern states. It’s time for us to work
together. It’s time to use our collective influence to benefit the region.
It’s time to combine our economic development efforts to create a better
future for our children and our grandchildren. This year I want us to commit
to a collective effort unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. We can show
the world what the American South has to offer – and we can do it together.”
The mission of the Southern Governors’ Association is to use the power of
connection, collaboration and communication in a bipartisan manner to solve
regional problems, improve quality of life and secure an economically
vibrant and prosperous American South. The SGA is composed of governors from
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West
Virginia.
To learn more about the Southern Governors’ Association and view videos of
this year’s conference, visit
www.southerngovernors.org.
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